Site Products
PingPod NY

High-tech security can’t stop theft, frisky patrons at employee-free businesses

Posted on

(Courtesy of New York Post)

Fledgling chains of high-tech gyms and recreational spots that don’t have on-site employees are cropping up nationwide – and some are grappling with shoplifting and randy customers.

Their novel business model is employee-lite during a stubborn labor shortage — and they seized on a soft commercial real estate market during the height of the pandemic to secure locations at bargain prices.

One’s a ping pong parlor where customers book a reservation with their phones and let themselves in — all unattended; another’s a pool hall that works the same way.

But even landlords have questions about renting to businesses that have no one manning the store, conceded David Silberman, co-founder of PingPod, which operates three locations where people can reserve a ping pod table any time of day or night in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on the Lower East Side and near Times Square.

Full article can be found here

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.

Latest News

Open Versus Closed

March 2, 2026
Robot plays backspin to long Forehand, Logan plays Forehand topspin down the line, robot plays little topspin to… Read More

Play the Inner Forehand Against Backhand Players

March 2, 2026
By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame Many players with strong backhands cover the… Read More

Lingshaui Meng – Multi ball Backhand Blocking

March 2, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Lingshaui Meng is focusing on the Backhand Block using Multi-ball… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: RA Table Tennis Centre

March 1, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The RA Table Tennis Center is centrally located in Ottawa, just off of highway 19. … Read More

Top Ranked Players Win Singapore Smash

March 1, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) The top players in the world converged this week in Singapore, and a… Read More

Final Four in Singapore: Chuqin, Lebrun, Yun-Ju, Moregard

February 28, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The top players in the world converged this week in Singapore, and on Sunday only… Read More

Maintain a Low Position

February 27, 2026
Robot plays long topspin balls to long Backhand, Logan plays Backhand chop block (Hack) off the bounce, robot… Read More

Calderano and Harimoto Among the Upsets in Singapore

February 27, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The top players in the world have converged this week in Singapore for the 2026… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.